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As the saying goes, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression” and that’s also true for welcoming someone to your home.
A door mat may seem a mundane place to start, but a thick, clean mat shows immediately that you are house proud, and you care. It’s better for people to use the mat rather than carry dirt inside, and so much easier to replace a door mat than remove stains from carpets. For a grander look, choose a mat in a size that is wider than the door and it’s surrounds.
There’s nothing like a grand entrance. When the door opens, it’s the taste of things to come in your home, a sneak peek if you like and a reflection of your personality and decorating style. A statement piece of furniture such as a console table or small round table are perfect if you have space. Keep it uncluttered, it’s not the place to drop everything when you come in the door.
A beautiful vase with flowers or foliage always looks inviting and can change with the seasons to breathe continual freshness into the space. If you hang a mirror in the entrance, not only will it reflect light and make the space appear larger, if its hung behind the filled vase, it will look like there are twice as many flowers. Very impressive! A mirror by the front door is perfect for a last-minute check before you answer or walk out the door too.
A statement piece of art, a sculpture or photos making your own personal gallery in the hallway can look fabulous and be a great conversation starter.
Lighting is an important consideration in the entrance – you don’t want it lit up like a Christmas tree – unless of course it is Christmas, then the more lights the better! No one wants to walk into a dark space – it should be warm, inviting, and welcoming. You could choose a statement pendant light, a table lamp on the console, some modern track lighting if you want to feature some art, or some simple downlights. If you can incorporate a dimmer switch, it will be a game changer because you can select the mood that suits the season or time of day.
A decorative umbrella stand will be a lifesaver for your floors and add another thoughtful element. Start a collection of pretty umbrellas for a year-round display not just for rainy days.
Your entrance is not just for visitors – it’s also for you, after all it is your home. It should welcome you, so you feel relieved and relaxed as soon as you open the door, it should bring you joy and make you happy.
Of course – not everyone enters through the front door – you may have a back door that gets more use. It can be more casual than your front entrance but don’t scrimp on style. A doormat is essential here too. Add some hooks for hanging backpacks, baskets, coats, and dog leads so they have a place off the floor, a console table with a bottom shelf could hold baskets so school shoes, runners or anything else that is needed frequently are close at hand. As an added bonus, if everyone knows where to find their own things it may take a bit of stress out of the morning school run.
If you give some thought to what the space will be used for – whether it’s welcoming visitors or for the family coming home, it will help determine what elements are the most important to incorporate.
